Senior BJD leader and Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab’s words of praise for BJP leader and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have raised eyebrows in the State’s ruling BJD circles.
Mahtab’s public appreciation of Pradhan’s role as a Minister has come at a time when the BJP has emerged as a viable alternative to the BJD with Pradhan being, though unofficially so far, projected by the BJP high command as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate.
Mahtab, while attending the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry’s function in Bhubaneswar on Saturday for launching the City Gas Distribution project in Pradhan’s presence, said Pradhan has been playing an effective role without forgetting his responsibility. When asked by reporters for his reaction to Mahtab’s remark, BJD vice-president and Minister Damodar Rout, with a pinch of salt, said Mahtab and Pradhan perhaps have good personal relations.